Invite a Guest
Inviting
Invite: to request the presence or participation of another person
LEVEL 1 – Movies, dinner, lunch, weddings, birthday parties, etc.
We invite people all the time. It’s part of living with others. We invite people to share a meal with us or come for a visit. We invite them to see a new movie or go to eat. We invite for a variety of reasons. Nothing to it.
We invite! What invitations are easy to extend?
LEVEL 2 – Church Activities
Inviting people to a church activity can be more challenging for us. Why do you think this may be true? Don’t we think the church activity will be a blessing to that person’s life? Perhaps we fear we might impinge on that individual’s private faith-life. To a certain degree, this is true, but in a positive way. God blesses people. Hopefully, others might be blessed by the fellowship found at church.
Not everyone is ready to attend a service of worship every Sunday, but inviting someone to one service with special music, children’s choir, or drama might be a start. Or, what about extending an invitation to a church potluck dinner? People love good food.
Inviting someone to a church activity doesn’t have to be hard. It does involve some risk, but the potential of blessing for that person is significant.
Who in your life would you like to invite to a church activity?
Which activities would that person particularly enjoy?
LEVEL 3 – Faith in Jesus Christ
Our world is full of people hungry for meaning. Many long for someone to help us make sense of the complex puzzle of life. Luther put it something like this, “We are hungry beggars showing other beggars where to find food.” Thus, how can we not share our faith and hope in Jesus Christ? There are people who desperately need some good news in their lives.
Let us pray for God to empower us to be clear witnesses to the love of God made known in Christ. May God open our hearts, eyes and mouths to the opportunities to bear witness to Christ. Let us pray for courage to invite, invite and invite.
Who is God bringing to mind for you to witness to God’s love?
How might you share the joy and love of Christ?
Writer: Robin McCullough-Bade
Copyright © 2004 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
May be reproduced for local, non-sale use provided the above copyright notice is included.